New tiger: Like most other 2-year-olds, Raja loves to roll around in the grass. However, he’s already hit 295 pounds, making him quite a bit larger than your standard toddler.
He’s a Sumatran tiger, an endangered species, and he came to the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium in Tacoma from the Topeka Zoo & Conservation Center in Kansas in May.
“Raja is a laid-back cat who loves to roll around in the grass and closely observe the other animals,” said animal curator Telena Welsh. “He has quickly become a favorite among staff and is a wonderful addition to our tiger streak.”
Raja in profile.
The plan is for him to be a dad soon. The zoo has three eligible female tigers, Kali, 8; Kirana, 6; and Indah, 6.
“We’re working hard to protect and boost the population of this critically endangered species, and Raja’s genetics are very valuable,” said Dr. Karen Goodrowe Beck, the Species Survival Plan coordinator for all tiger programs in the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Only about 400 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild, on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, and there are 75 of them in North American zoos.
Raja, lurking.
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